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Supporting small business startup and growth in Van Buren, Cass, and Berrien Counties with no-cost mentoring and business training. | |
Join in this annual event to celebrate in our clients' growth and get energized by their visions. RSVP to win a gift basket from our presenters!
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Agenda
- 5:15 p.m. Doors open, networking, appetizers, beverages
- 6:00 p.m. Welcome and opening remarks
- Lisa Miller with Forever Clean Soap Works
- Jason Deibler-Love with Lucky Wolf Paw Paw
- Sam Dustin with Sirens Rose Tattoo Studio
- Janet and Brian Tufnell with Brian the Munchie Man Food Truck
- Mary Ann Scott with Land of Light Community
- Paula Camp with Carriage House Ciders
- Amy Underwood with Health Elevated
- Closing remarks, meet the presenters with appetizers, beverages
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Launch and Grow Your Business with Free 2026 Startup Series Workshops!
Workshops take place January through March of 2026.
Each session is focused and practical, helping you:
- Sharpen your business acumen and improve operations.
- Develop robust marketing strategies.
- Find new sources of funding and investment to support growth.
- Work toward completing a Business Model Canvas (a core tool provided in the first workshop).
All workshops will be held at Lake Michigan College, South Haven from 6-8 p.m. Light snacks provided.
| | | | Growth Series Nears Completion | | |
In October, Growth Series participants learned about process and succession planning from two of our Subject Matter Experts.
Session 10 featured The PITCH Instructions and Preparation. This session was led by GB Richmond, Founder of Goodbye Money Stress. Participants worked to develop a pitch deck draft intended for funders, which they left the session with. They will fine tune those pitches in advance of presenting them to the community on Nov. 5 at The Pitch event.
In Session 11 (photo), Michael Neiss of Michael T. Neiss & Associates led a dynamic, two-hour overview of "The Leadership Challenge," a proven research and behavior-based framework for inspiring greatness in others. Attendees gained increased self-awareness regarding their leadership strengths and blind spots, and received practical leadership tools for immediate application.
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A special thank you to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for their financial support, which makes this program possible. The Growth Series is a true testament to the power of partnership, bringing together various organizations to support our small business community.
| | South Haven Regional Business Hub News | | |
We have the pleasure of meeting with our incredible partners in the small business ecosystem — organizations who, like us, are dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs start, grow, and thrive.
Together, we’re building more than programs — we’re building community capacity, collaboration, and a stronger future for small business.
A special shoutout to Jill Bland, Executive Vice President, Economic Development, Southwest Michigan First and an economic development legend whose leadership and vision have shaped countless success stories across our region. We’re grateful for your continued partnership and inspiration!
| | From Left, Hub Executive Director Elizabeth Bernhard, Jill Bland, and Debi Howe, Hub Board Chair. | |
Meet the Mentor
Rob Paliani, Retired
Rob Paliani retired from HSBC Bank where he was most recently the Head of Retail Portfolio Management and Analytics based in Canada. He has 36 years banking experience with leadership roles in risk management, marketing, and financial modeling. While at HSBC, Rob served as a leadership coach to mentor future leaders, and served on his local school board. He earned an MBA from the University of Michigan and is a Certified Financial Risk Manager. Rob’s interest in small business began as a teenager when he worked in his family’s restaurant and continues today as he assists with his wife’s store (Lakeshore Trends) in downtown South Haven.
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Sticky Spoons Jam will host its annual Veteran Makers Market on November 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 11801 Pucker St, Niles, MI. During the event, they will be collecting coats, scarves, hats, underwear, and socks for homeless veterans. They also will accept used sneakers as part of their program to raise funds to adopt and train dogs for veterans with PTSD.
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Lawrence Community Care joined the VB Veterans Stand down to provide free sugar testing and blood pressure checks and their long-awaited mural project is under way.
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Succession Planning Series
Attend one or all 3! Registrations open soon. For anyone considering selling or exiting a business!
Workshops will be held February 18, March 18, April 8 from 4-6 p.m. at Lake Michigan College, South Haven, 125 Veterans Blvd., South Haven, MI.
Geared toward businesses with 5 to 100+ employees. Come get expert advice if you're planning to exit your business.
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Support Our Work
Support the South Haven Regional Business Hub's Work with Small Businesses. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering small businesses in Southwest Michigan to launch, expand, and thrive. More than 40 local experts volunteer, providing entrepreneurs with free education, mentoring, and resources like the Growth Series (and the PITCH) and the Startup Series.
The Hub combines community knowledge, connections, and resources to create initiatives and partnerships, supporting local entrepreneurs.
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Guest Article: Dan Cubr, Sales Coaching & Consulting, EAM Consulting Group
If you’re like most small business owners, you don’t have a dedicated sales team. Every conversation you have—from a first meeting to a product demo—is a sales conversation. This is why one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) tools in your toolkit is the Upfront Contract.
While the name sounds formal, an Upfront Contract is simply a brief, mutually agreed-upon understanding with your prospect about what will happen next. It’s the framework for a professional, respectful business conversation, not a high-pressure pitch.
4 Steps to Execute a Powerful Upfront Contract
- Step 1: State the Purpose and Time Limit (The Setup)
- Step 2: Get the Prospect’s Agenda (The Invitation)
- Step 3: Present Your Agenda (The Balance)
- Step 4: Define the Mutual Outcome (The Future Step)
Want more predictable, productive sales conversations? Start every meeting with an Upfront Contract—and watch your close rate, and your confidence, improve.
| | Get Free Templates and Guides on Our Website | | |
We get asked quite often if we have a template for business plans, marketing plans, P&L, and profit projections and the answer is YES. We even have a small business startup checklist to guide you. See all our free resources on our website or click below.
Browse our Free Resources Library:
| | Events by Strategic Partners | | |
Own It: Build Your Brand!
Monday, November 3, 3–5 p.m.
Schmidke Construction and Contracting – The Hub, 6291 Sawyer Road, (Schmidke Construction)
Ready to refresh your professional image? Join the Entrepreneurial Services at Cornerstone Alliance for an afternoon focused on personal branding, confidence, and self-care. Enjoy a free professional headshot, networking, and tips to help you show up polished and prepared for your next opportunity.
REGISTER
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HYPE (Highlighting Young Professional Excellence)
Monday, November 3, 3–5 p.m., Watermark Solarium, Stevensville, MI
HYPE is a Shark Tank–style pitch competition designed to give young entrepreneurs a powerful platform to showcase their innovative ideas, connect with business leaders, and compete for funding to take their vision to the next level. GET TICKETS
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Chamber ABO (After Business Ours)
November 20, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
American Legion Post 49, South Haven, MI 49090
South Haven Area Young Professionals
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Three Blondes Brewing, South Haven, MI 49090
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Learn to do Business With the Government
Apex Accelerator Upcoming Classes
Registration is required.
| | The South Haven Regional Business Hub works with small businesses throughout the region with support from the City of South Haven, Lake Michigan College, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the South Haven Area Community Foundation, and individual investors like you. | | | Share this news by clicking one of the social links below and using the hashtag #smallbizsupport | | | | |
